WALSH, Gretchen
1936
Gretchen A. Walsh, died peacefully in her 88th year, in the early morning of April 3, 2024, after sharing her last days with her family by her side at Eskaton Gold River memory care.
She is the beloved wife for more than 66 years of Dr. Frederick D. Walsh, and the devoted mother to her loving children, grandchildren and great grandchildren: Laurie Daniels, Cory and Heather Daniels, Nadja, Faith and Aiden; Jim and Jill Walsh, Stephanie and Sheldon Olding and Adeline, and Justin Walsh; Tom and Lynn Walsh, Sarah Walsh and Jason Walsh; Greg Walsh and Jenny Wingo; and Anne-Marie Walsh, Nicole and Matt Bernard and Hugo, Paul Beauchemin, Michael and Megan Beauchemin, and Emily Beauchemin.
Gretchen is preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Anne Schenck; brothers, Louis (Lois) Schenck and John (Marina) Schenck; sisters, Mary (Ledwith "Bud") Brennan and Sr. Anne Schenck of the Sisters of St. Joseph; son-in-law, Jim Daniels; and daughter-in-law, Teresa Walsh. She is survived by sisters, Joanne (Gerry) Diamond, Margaret (Mike) Sawchuck; and many nieces and nephews who knew Aunt Gretch to be such great fun. She was well loved as well by Fred's family, becoming close friends with several of his dozen siblings and their spouses, particularly when their families were young. Gretchen had a generous heart, opening their beautiful, stately home to so many friends who came to visit her and Fred in California. She set an elegant table and made each birthday for her husband and children a special occasion. She particularly loved celebrating Christmas and Easter, cooking the most delicious meals, but then every meal she made was delicious. Gretchen was a stay-at-home mom when her children were young, involved in their daily lives, and helping to instill in them the love of learning and having fun.
When her children were in high school and college/university, Gretchen went back to school at West Valley College and took real estate courses from George Miller, head of the department. Initially, she became a real estate agent, but before long, George hired her to work for him in his sidebusiness of real estate appraising, and then made her his partner.
Together they ran a successful business, appraising residential and commercial properties throughout the Santa Clara Valley for almost thirty years. They also mentored more than twenty students, including her son Greg, who went on to successful careers of their own.
Gretchen had an adventurous spirit, vacationing with her family in the Airstream trailer she and Fred purchased to go to the Canadian Expo in 1967, out west in 1969 and down east in 1971, and using it as a cottage-on-wheels for more than ten years.
She learned to ski with her family in Collingwood in her 30's, and then she and Fred joined a group of friends for annual ski trips to the mountains of the western U.S. and Canada, and the French Alps. She and Fred also traveled extensively to South America, Africa, Europe, Hawaii, Costa Rica and China. And Gretchen loved to go sailing on San Francisco Bay after she was introduced to it by George Miller in the early '80's. For many years, they took groups of ten students, friends or family out on a 40foot sailboat almost every other weekend in the summer months passing by Fisherman's Wharf and under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Gretchen will be greatly missed by those who love her and her love of life.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on April 24, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Calvary Cemetery and Funeral Center, 7100 Verner Avenue, Citrus Heights, CA 95621, with committal of her cremains immediately after, and followed by a gathering for family and friends at the Sacramento home of her daughter Laurie.
The family will also host a Celebration of Life for Gretchen at Eskaton Village in Carmichael, CA on Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 1 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to organizations funding Alzheimer's research.